After noting the two adjustments to his Spatial Sword Art, Su Yu asked about the battle at Golden Radiance Ridge.
"Grand Elder, both sects still had the strength to fight. Did they finally agree to withdraw because they feared your Third-Order Sword Domain?"
"That was one reason."
Luochen Sword Sovereign smiled faintly.
"They hadn't known beforehand that I had mastered the Third-Order Sword Domain, nor did they know much about its power, so they naturally suffered when we fought. With Red-Brow injured as well, a battle they had thought was firmly in their grasp suddenly threatened their lives. How could any of them dare act rashly?"
"But you mustn't underestimate them because of that."
He looked at Su Yu and continued, "Before my breakthrough, Red-Brow and Tieyu alone could defeat me if they joined forces. Now, with the Third-Order Sword Domain, I can gain the upper hand, but there are five of them, after all. If they truly joined forces to fight to the death, regardless of the cost, Bedrock and I could never hold them off on our own."
Su Yu nodded.
Bedrock Venerable had also suffered serious injuries in that battle. Luochen Sword Sovereign's ability to severely wound Red-Brow Saber Venerable did not mean he could defeat all five of them.
"So the two sects didn't actually send their forces to swallow our sect in one stroke?"
"Correct. They merely saw that the Long River Sect was tied down by the war in Yunlan Province and had no time to spare for us, and wanted to seize some resources while they had the chance. If they could force us to bow our heads, all the better. But if it meant losing a Venerable, they would have to think long and hard."
Luochen Sword Sovereign lifted his teacup.
"A